Tips For a Stress Free Holiday Season
A stress free holiday season. That seems like a big promise. But the truth is, it’s up to you. We put so much pressure on ourselves to do everything and do it worthy of Instagram. I love the holidays and I love making things beautiful. But it for sure can get overwhelming. Here are a few tips to make things feel more manageable with the goal for you and your loved ones to truly enjoy this special time of year together.
Plan your calendar
Pull out your calendar and look at the 2 months that are left of 2023 – How is that even possible- CRAZY! Pull out your calendar and fill in all your mandatory events. Mandatory does not mean, not fun… you know what I mean, the class parties, your husband’s company work party, Christmas Eve dinner at your mom’s house. Write them all down. Then make a list of all the things you need for those events and start preparing now. (more on that later). Next make a list of things you want to do as a family and schedule those. Knowing exactly what’s ahead and when to add in those quiet family moments around the fire will help life not feel so fast.
Print out these cute calendar pages to help you stay organized. Download a printable calendar for 2024 here.
Enjoy quiet family time
Once you have the mandatory events scheduled, you can evaluate how to spend the rest of your time. This may be an unpopular opinion but you do not have to attend every event that you are invited to. You decide what goes on your calendar. SCHEDULE FAMILY TIME. Make it an intentional plan to slow down and make memories together. Make the time that you put up the tree something special. Let go of control just a little and let the kids put things wherever they want. (You can always move them after bedtime.) Make hot cocoa and Christmas cookies, blast Christmas music, and get in those Christmas PJs. Enjoy this special time together. Decide on your family traditions and then make a plan so that they actually happen.
Do not procrastinate the small stuff
This is the biggest thing for me. This is what truly ruins my Christmas spirit or at least, causes some internal stress and maybe a few tears at times. For every event that you place on your calendar make a list of what is needed for the event. Gifts for the gift exchange, little goodies for the kid’s class party, a good outfit for the company dinner – and here is the important thing- start today! Make your Christmas list, shop those sales and then wrap the gifts. I have it in my head that Santa- aka me- wraps all gifts on Christmas Eve. Why? Why do I think that? Why do I put myself through that every year? This year I plan to shop early and wrap early.
Once the Christmas festivities start, they come fast, one after another. No one wants to be stopping at Walgreens for a gift bag on the way to an event. Save yourself the stress and do not procrastinate the small stuff.
I have some fun posts coming with ideas for intentional plans with your family this holiday season. Advent ideas, movie lists and more. Sign up for my email list so that you don’t miss a thing.